Closure and dispensing cap for the neck of a container



March 30, 1965 A. J. PORTER 3,175,741

CLOSURE AND DISPENSING CAP FOR THE NECK OF A CONTAINER Filed March 12.1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l A A Frafl 4H4 40 mm. $6 40 l 4 48 24 55; 55 427560 .50 5/ .5 50 HM 52 l 52 1 I 2 /7 0 60.26% I 1; ,9 Z235 HM 4 .28-

I I I ZNVENTOR Al. I///\/ d. PORTER ATTORNEYS March 30, 1965 A. J.PORTER CLOSURE AND DISPENSING CAP FOR THE NECK OF A CONTAINER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12. 1964 Fi e. 6

INVEN TOR AL V//\/ d. POA 75/? BY M wfua.

ATTORNE YS 3,175,741 (ILUSURE AND DldPENdING CAP EUR TlllE NEEK DI ACQNTAINER Alvin 3!. Porter, Excelsior, Minn, assignor to Product Design& Engineering, Inc, Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Mar. 12, 1964,51. No.351,359 '7 tllairns. (El. 222 521) The invention relates to animprovement in a cap for a container, the cap allowing closure of thecontainer and also dispensing of material therefrom.

It is an object to provide a cap having a base portion with an overcapportion threadedly engaged thereto, the overcap portion carrying a lugadapted to bypass stop means within the base portion which is yieldablein the direction the overcap portion is rotated to threadedly engage thesame on the base, the stop means having a construction for engagementwith the lug which prevents removal of the overcap portion when the sameis rotated in the opposite direction for dispensing the constructionallowing easy assembly of the cap and a maintaining of the overcapportion captive on the base portion.

It will not be here attempted to set forth and indicate all of thevarious objects and advantages incident to the invention, but otherobjects and advantages will be referred to in or else will becomeapparent from that which follows.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detaileddescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive ideawherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the cap in position on a containerwith the overcap portion in captive position on the base portion, aportion of the container being broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of FIGURE 1 showing the cap in aclosed position.

FIGURE 3 is a section similar to FlGURE 2 with the cap in an openposition.

FIGURE 4 is a section on the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section through the overcap portion removed fromthe base portion.

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view of the overcap portion.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the base portion.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the cap mounted on a container,portions of the cap and container being broken away.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the cap A includes the base portionIt) which is connected to the neck 12 of a container B. The base portionltl includes the outer hollow cylindrical portion l4 having formed onthe outer surface thereof the threads 16. Extending inwardly of thelower end of the cylindrical portion :14 and normal to the longitudinalaxis thereof is the narrow annular wall portion 18 which terminates atits inner edge in the inner axial hollow nozzle 29 thereby forming afirst annular channel 159 between the portion I4 and the nozzle 29. Theupper end of the nozzle 29 is formed with the transverse bar portion 22which bisects the upper open end of the nozzle thereby forming fiowpassages 17 and 21. The bar portion includes the upper invertedii-shaped portion 24 which terminates at its apex in the axial closuretip 26.

Further provided are the spaced stops 2% and 3% which are yieldable, forthe same are formed of plastic. The stops may be formed of otherresilient material or construction. The stop 28 is formed on the outersurface of the nozzle 2t and extends upwardly from the wall portion 18.The stop 28 includes the inclined ramp poreion 32 ddlhfldl Patented Mar.30, 1965 which terminates at its greatest thickness in the shoulder stopedge 34. The companion stop is formed on the inner surface of the outercylindrical portion 14 extending upwardly from the wall portion 18 injuxtaposition to stop 23. The stop 30 includes the inclined ramp portion36 which terminates at its greatest thickness or rise in the shoulderstop edge 33.

The numeral 4% designates an overcap including the outer cylindricalwall portion 42 which forms an annular apron and which terminates at theupper edge thereof in the circular top portion 44 having the concaveformation 45 and the axial outlet hole 48.

Depending from the top portion 44 is the inner cylindrical wall 53concentric with and spaced from the outer wall 42, and formed on theinner surface of the inner wall are the threads 52 which are engagedwith the threads 1'5 of the portion 14- of the base portion 10 ashereinafter described:

Also depending. from the top portion 4-4- is the collar portion 54 whichis spaced inwardly of the inner Wall 59 and concentric thereof therebyforming an annular channel 51 between the wall 5%) and collar 54. Theouter diameter of the collar 54 is substantially equal to the innerdiameter of the outer cylindrical portion 14 of the base 10. The innerdiameter of the collar 54 is substantially equal to the outer diameterof the hollow nozzle 20 whereby the collar 54 fits snugly in the annularchannel 21 to make a sealing engagement between collar 54, nozzle 2% andcylindrical portion 14 but free enough to allow rotation of the collarin the channel as hereinafter described. The depth of the collar 54 andthe upper extent of the nozzle 25b is such that the collar remains incontact with the nozzle 2% at all times even in the raised or openposition of the overcap 40 upon the base as will be seen particularly inFIGURE 3.

The collar 54 terminates at its inner upper end in the truncated boneformation 55 which terminates in the outlet hole 43. Extendingdownwardly from the lower edge of the collar 54 and into the channel 21is the extension as in the form of an arcuate lug which is tapered toits forward end 58. The width of the lug 56 at its rear or base end 60is greater than the distance between stops 28 and 3d at the greatestthickness thereof. The tapered forward end of the lug as aids in entryof the lug between the stops 2d and 3t and forced passage therebetween.

The cap is assem led and operated in the following manner: The overcapdid is positioned on and in axial alignment with the base It with thelug 56 extending partially into the channel 19. The overcap is thenrotated whereby the threads 52 of the overcap engage the threads 16 ofthe base portion In. As the overcap is rotated clockwise and the threadsprogressively engage the overcap, the same is, of course, drawn downupon the base it and as it progresses the lug 56 comes to the stops 28and 30. With further rotation of the overcap the lug 56 is forcedthrough the restricted passageway between the stops to a point past thestops. The stops 28 and 30 are yieldable as is the lug, inasmuch as thesame are plastic and the portions on which the same are mounted areplastic.

With the lug 5d forced to a point just beyond the stops 28 and 30, asillustrated particularly in FIGURE 4, the overcap cannot be rotated fromthat point in an opposite or counterclockwise direction due to the baseend at) of the lug contacting the stop edge and 38 of the stops 28 and30. The overcap is now captive upon the base portion 19, and in thisposition the overcap is not screwed down fully upon the base whereby theclosure pin 26 is not within the outlet hole 48 thus leaving the cap inan open position whereby the contents of the container B may tiowthrough the core 2%, the passages 19 and 21', and outlet hole 48. Thecap is closed by rotating the overcap 4b in a clockwise directionwhereby the same is drawn down further upon the base It by the threadsprovided and the closure tip as enters the outlet hole lb. Again, thecap is placed in an open position by rotating the overcap 4tcounterclockwise until the lug 56 strikes the stops 28 and 3t? and as aresult the tip 26 is withdrawn from the outlet hole 48. The lower extentof the lug 56 is such that the lower edge thereof does not contact thewall 18 when the cap is in the closed position nor does it escape thestops 238 and 39 when in the upper open position.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth since these may be modified within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A closure and dispensing cap for a container comprising:

(a) a base including,

(12) an outer hollow cylindrical portion having,

7 (c) threads formed on the outer surface thereof,

(d) a hollow open-ended nozzle secured axially within said outer hollowcylindrical portion and spaced therefrom to form (e) a first annularchannel surrounding said nozzle,

(1) a first yieldable stop means formed on the outer surface of saidnozzle and extending into said first channel,

(g) a second yieldable stop means formed on the inner surface of saidouter hollow cylindrical portion and extending into said first channel,said second stop means spaced radially from said first stop means,

(h) an overcap including a circular top portion,

(1') an inner cylindrical wall depending from said top portion,

(1') said inner cylindrical wall having threads formed on the innersurface thereof adapted to engage the threads of said outer hollowcylindrical portion of said base,

(k) a collar depending from said top portion concentric with said innercylindrical wall and into which said nozzle extends for sealingengagement with said nozzle,

(I) said collar spaced from said inner cylindrical wall thereby forminga second annular channel into which said outer hollow cylindricalportion extends,

(m) said top portion having an outlet hole formed axially therethroughand communicating internally of said collar,

(12) said nozzle having a closure tip mounted axially at the upper openend thereof and adapted to extend into said outlet hole when saidovercap is screwed upon said base cylindrical portion and close off saidoutlet hole,

() said collar having a tapered arcuate lug depending therefrom andextending into said first annular channel adapted to be forcibly passedover said first and second yieldable stop means and moved from the sameupon threaded rotative movement of said overcap in one direction,movement of said overcap in the opposite direction being prevented bysaid lug contacting said stop means, said closure tip being withdrawnfrom said outlet hole when said lug contacts said stop means, said tipbeing positioned in said outlet hole when said lug is rotatively movedfrom said stop means, said overcap remaining in threaded engagement withsaid base portion thereby maintaining the overcap captive on the base.

2. A closure and dispensing cap for a container comprising:

(a) a base including,

(b) an outer hollow cylindrical portion having,

(0) threads formed on the outer surface thereof,

(d) a hollow open-ended nozzle secured axially within said outer hollowcylindrical portion and spaced therefrom to form (c) a first annularchannel surrounding said nozzle,

(1) stop means positioned within said first channel,

(g) an overcap including a circular top portion,

(h) cylindrical wall depending from said top portion,

(1) said cylindrical wall having threads formed on the inner surfacethereof adapted to engage the threads of said outer hollow cylindricalportion of said base,

( j) a collar depending from said top portion concentric with saidcylindrical wall and into which said nozzle extends for sealingengagement with said nozzle,

(k) said collar spaced from said cylindrical wall thereby forming asecond annular channel into which said outer hollow cylindrical portionextends,

(I) said top portion having an outlet hole formed axially therethroughand communicating internally of said collar,

(m) said nozzle having a closure tip mounted axially at the upper openend thereof and adapted to extend into said outlet hole when saidovercap is screwed upon said base cylindrical portion and close oii saidoutlet hole,

(it) said collar having a lug depending therefrom and extending intosaid first annular channel adapted to be forcibly passed over said stopmeans and moved from the same upon threaded rotative movement of saidovercap in one direction, movement of said overcap in the oppositedirection being prevented by said lug contacting said stop means, saidclosure tip being withdrawn from said outlet hole when said lug contactssaid stop means and positioned in said outlet hole when said lug isrotatively moved from said stop means, said overcap remaining inthreaded engagement with said base portion thereby maintaining theovercap captive on the base.

3. A closure and dispensing cap for a container comprising:

(a) a base including,

(b) an outer hollow cylindrical portion having,

(c) threads formed on the outer surface thereof,

(d) a hollow open-ended nozzle secured axially within said outer hollowcylindrical portion and spaced therefrom to form (2) a first annularchannel surrounding said nozzle,

(f) yieldable stop means positioned within said first channel,

(g) on overcap including a circular top portion,

(/1) a cylindrical wall depending from said top portion,

(1') said cylindrical wall having threads formed on the inner surfacethereof adapted to engage the threads of said outer hollow cylindricalportion of said base,

(j) a collar depending from said top portion concentric with saidcylindrical wall and into which said nozzle extends for sealing enagement with said nozzle,

(Jr) said collar spaced from said cylindrical wall thereby forming asecond annular channel into which said outer hollow cylindrical portionextends,

(I) said top portion having an outlet hole formed axially therethroughand communicating internally of said collar,

(m) said nozzle having a closure tip mounted axially at the ripper openend thereof and adapted to extend into said outlet hole when saidovercap is screwed upon said base cylindrical portion and close off saidoutlet hole,

(It) said collar having a tapered arcuate lug depending therefrom and.extending into said first annular channel adapted to be forcibly passedover said yieldable stop means and moved from the same upon threadedrotative movement of said overcap in one direction, movement of saidovercap in the opposite direction being prevented by said lug contactingsaid stop means, said closure tip being withdrawn from said outlet holewhen said lug contacts said stop means and positioned in said outlethole when said lug is rotatively moved from said stop means, saidovercap remaining in threaded engagement with said base portion therebymaintaining the overcap captive on the base.

4. A closure and dispensing cap for a container comprising:

(a) a base including,

([2) an outer hollow cylindrical portion having,

(0) threads formed on the outer surface thereof,

(a') "a hollow open-ended nozzle secured axially within said outerhollow cylindrical portion spaced therefrom to form (e) a first annularchannel surrounding said nozzle,

(f) a first yieldable stop member formed on the outer surface of saidnozzle and extending into said first channel,

(g) said first stop having a ramp portion terminating in a stopshoulder,

(11) a second yieldable stop member formed on the inner surface of saidouter hollow cylindrical portion and extending into said first channel,

(i) said second stop having a ramp portion terminating in a stopshoulder,

(j) an overcap including a circular top portion,

(k) a cylindrical wall depending from said top portion,

(1) said cylindrical wall having threads formed on the inner surfacethereof adapted to engage the threads of said outer hollow cylindricalportion of said base,

(m) a collar depending from said top portion concentrio with saidcylindrical wall and into which said nozzle extends from sealingengagement with said nozzle,

(71) said collar spaced from said cylindrical wall thereby forming asecond. annular channel into which said hollow cylindrical portionextends,

(0) said top portion having an outlet hole formed axially therethroughand communicating internally of said collar,

(p) said nozzle having a closure tip mounted axially at the upper openend thereof and adapted to extend into said outlet hole when saidovercap is screwed upon said base cylindrical portion and close oif saidoutlet hole,

(q) said collar having a tapered lug depending therefrom and extendinginto said first annular channel adapted to be forcibly passed over saidyieldable stop members and moved from the same upon threaded rotativemovement of said overcap in one direction, movement of said overcap inthe opposite direction being prevented by said lug contacting said stopmeans, said closure tip being withdrawn from said outlet hole when saidlug contacts said stop means and positioned in said outlet hole whensaid lug is rotatively moved from said stop means, said overcapremaining in threaded engagement with said base portion therebymaintaining the overcap captive on the base.

5. A closure and dispensing cap for a container comprising:

(a) abase including,

(b) an outer hollow cylindrical portion,

(0) a hollow nozzle open at both ends and secured axially within saidhollow cylindrical portion,

(a) said nozzle spaced from said outer hollow cylindrical portionthereby forming an annular channel surrounding said nozzle,

(2) stop means positioned within said channel,

(f) an overcap including a circular top portion,

(g) a collar depending from said top portion concentric with saidcircular top portion and positioned within said channel,

(12) means threadedly engaging said overcap with said base,

(i) said top portion having an outlet hole formed axially therethrough,

(i) said nozzle having a closure tip mounted axially at the upper openend thereof and adapted to extend into said outlet hole and close oft"the same when said overcap is screwed upon said base,

(k) said collar having a lug depending therefrom and extending into saidannular channel adapted to be forcibly passed over said stop means andmoved from the same upon threaded rotative movement of said overcap inone direction, movement of said overcap in the opposite direction beingprevented by said lug contacting said stop means, said closure tip beingwithdrawn from said outlet hole when said lug contacts said stop meansand positioned in said outlet hole when said lug is rotatively movedfrom said stop means, said overcap remaining in threaded engagement withsaid base portion thereby maintaining the overcap captive on the base.

6. A closure and dispensing cap for a container comprising:

(a) a base including an outer hollow cylindrical portion formed thereon,

(b) a hollow nozzle open at both ends and secured axially within saidhollow cylindrical portion,

(0) said nozzle spaced from said hollow cylindrical portion therebyforming an annular channel surrounding said nozzle,

(d) stop means positioned within said channel,

(e) an overcap including a circular top portion,

(f) means threadedly engaging said overcap to said base,

(g) said top portion having an outlet hole formed axially thereof,

(h) said nozzle having a closure tip mounted axially at the upper endthereof and adapted to extend into said outlet hole and close off thesame when said overcap is screwed upon said base,

(i) said top portion having an extension depending therefrom andextending into said annular channel adapted to be forcibly passed oversaid stop means upon threaded rotative movement of said overcap in onedirection, said lug means abutting said stop means upon threadedrotative movement of said overcap in the opposite direction, saidclosure tip Withdrawn from said outlet hole when said lug means abutssaid stop means and positioned in said outlet hole when said lug meansis ro-tatively moved from said stop means, said overcap remaining inthreaded engagement with said base portion thereby maintaining theovercap captive on the base.

7. A closure cap for a container comprising:

(a) a base including an outer hollow cylindrical portion formed thereon,

(b) a hollow nozzle open at both ends and secured axially within saidhollow cylindrical portion,

(0) said nozzle spaced from said hollow cylindrical portion therebyforming an annular channel surrounding said nozzle,

(d) stop means positioned within said channel,

(e) an overcap including a circular top portion,

(f) means engaging said overcap with said base for axial movementthereon,

(g) said top portion having an outlet hole formed axially thereof,

(it) said nozzle having a closure tip mounted axially at the upper endthereof and adapted to extend into said outlet hole and close off thesame when said overcap is fully engaged with said base,

(i) said top portion having an extension depending therefrom andextending into said channel adapted to be forcibly passed over said stopmeans upon rotative movement of said overcap in one direction, said3,175,741 7 7 8 extension abuttii'ig said stop means upon rotativeReferences Cited in the file of this patent movement of said overcap inthe opposite direction, UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 t h 1 said closure tipWithdrawn from said ou let oe 2,542,350

when said extension abuts said stop means and posi- 1 17211115811 Fell a1951 tioned in said outlet hole when said extension is ro- 5 3,010,619Tonemeyer et a1 L8, 1961 3,123,259 Musel et al. Mar. 3, 1964 tativelymoved from said stop means.

1. A CLOSURE AND DISPENSING CAP FOR A CONTAINER COMPRISING: (A) A BASEINCLUDING, (B) AN OUTER HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL PORTION HAVING, (C) THREADSFORMED ON THE OUTER SURFACE THEREOF, (D) A HOLLOW OPEN-ENDED NOZZLESECURED AXIALLY WITHIN SAID OUTER HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND SPCEDTHEREFROM TO FORM (E) A FIRST ANNULAR CHANNEL SURROUNDING SAID NOZZLE,(F) A FIRST YIELDABLE STOP MEANS FORMED ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAIDNOZZLE AND EXTENDING INTO SAID FIRST CHANNEL, (G) A SECOND YIELDABLESTOP MEANS FORMED ON THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID OUTER HOLLOW CYLINDRICALPORTOIN AND EXTENDING INTO SAID FIRST CHANNEL, SAID SECOND STOP MEANSSPACED RADIALLY FROM SAID FIRST STOP MEANS, (H) AN OVERCAP INCLUDING ACIRCULAR TOP PORTION, (I) AN INNER CYLINDRICAL WALL DEPENDING FROM SAIDTOP PORTION, (J) SAID INNER CYLINDRICAL WALL HAVING THREADS FORMED ONTHE INNER SURFACE THEREOF ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE THREADS OF SAID OUTERHOLLOW CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF SAID BASE, (K) A COLLAR DEPENDING FROMSAID TOP PORTION CONCENTRIC WITH SAID INNER CYLINDRICAL WALL AND INTOWHICH SAID NOZZLE EXTENDS FOR SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID NOZZLE, (L)SAID COLLAR SPACED FROM SAID INNER CYLINDRICAL WALL THEREBY FORMING ASECOND ANNULAR CHANNEL INTO WHICH SAID OUTER HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL PORTIONEXTENDS, (M) SAID TOP PORTION HAVING AN OUTLER HOLE FORMED AXIALLYTHERETHROUGH AND COMMUNICATING INTERNALLY OF SAID COLLAR, (N) SAIDNOZZLE HAVING A CLOSURE TIP MOUNTED AXIALLY AT THE UPPER OPEN ENDTHEREOF AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND INTO SAID OUTLET HOLE WHEN SAID OVERCAP ISSCREWED UPON SAID BASE CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND CLOSE OFF SAID OUTLETHOLE, (O) SAID COLLAR HAVING A TAPERED ARCUATE LUG DEPENDING THEREFROMAND EXTENDING INTO SAID FIRST ANNULAR CHANNEL ADAPTED TO BE FORCIBLYPASSED OVER SAID FIRST AND SECOND YIELDABLE STOP MEANS AND MOVED FROMTHE SAME UPON THREADED ROTATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID OVERCAP IN ONEDIRECTION BEING PREVENTED BY SAID LUGTHE OPPOSITE DIRECTION BEINGPREVENTED BY SAID LUG CONTACTING SAID STOP MEANS, SAID CLOSURE TIP BEINGWITHDRAWN FROM SAID OUTLET HOLE WHEN SAID LUG CONTACTS SAID STOP MEANS,SAID TIP BEING POSITIONED IN SAID OUTLET HOLE WHEN SAID LUG ISROTATIVELY MOVED FROM SAID STOP MEANS, SAID OVERCAP REMAINING IN THETHREADED ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BASE PORTION THEREBY MAINTAINING THEOVERCAP CAPTIVE ON THE BASE.